Into the New World, Chapter 1: Amongst the Verdant Towers

[Masquerade]

After bidding farewell to her family, Cleyra leaves her home early the next morning, wondering intensely what effect the ash will have on the fertility of the soil. With this thought at mind, she is able to stave off any doubts she may still have about her decision as she makes her way into the town proper.

Cleyra keeps her head high as she steps inside, brushing ashes from her bag and shoulders. She tries to maintain a confident demeanor in order to gain the trust of her new companions. "Greetings, everyone. I am prepared."

 

[Shayuri]

A flurry of coughing and muttered curses precede Erin's arrival. She's dressed in her shepherding clothes...rugged breeches and vest over a light tunic shirt, and carrying her staff. While it's not as glamorous as her party dress, it has a certain tomboyish appeal on her.

She comes in the door, waving in front of her face and grimacing. On seeing everyone there, she looks a little taken aback.

"Oh good...right on time. Carry on."

 

[Lorthanoth]

Alistia enters quietly, so much so that hardly anyone notices her arrival; the incongruity of the beautiful young woman wielding the finely crafted hunting- club is striking. She nods at Erin with a nervous slight smile; a smile which gets warmer when she spies Enko. For all his strangeness, I'm glad he's here.

 

[Zurai]

As each of you enter the ash-covered Council building, you are greeted by old Lempetie, the village historian/bard. "Come in, come in dearies! Here, let me brush all that dreadful ash off you. You're early, you know! Eager to be off are we? Heeee!" she cackles softly to herself, as if she'd just made a joke. "Pantheras and Sotera are out at the moment. Communing with Old Man River, I think. Artemisia likely won't be here til Highsun either - always the punctual little thing, she was. Here, come with me, I'll find you somewhere to sit and bring you some oat-cakes to eat while you wait."

She ushers you into a small antechamber then disappears for a few moments before returning with a tray piled high with oat-cakes and a small pitcher of honey. "Here you are dearies, eat up, eat up! You'll need your strength! Heeee!" Again she laughs to herself.

After setting the tray down, she backs up into one of the remaining chairs in the room and flops down un-gracefully. She grins at you, displaying her nearly-toothless mouth, and asks, "So, tell old Lempetie why you all are willing to risk your lives venturing to the mountain through unknown lands! Heeeeeheheh, I didn't scare you away did I? Heeee!"

 

[Lorthanoth]

Alistia regards the old woman with a mixture of bravado and deference, "I think you might be able to guess why I'm here. When I wanted to become an apprentice to the bardic circle, you said that I didn't have enough experience fof life and that my stories were just the same ones that had been passed down; that I didn't add anything or provide anything new to 'bring some light to the darkness' was how you put it."

She continues, "Well... that's why. So I can bring back new stories, and so we can spread the light of our town and our people into the dark."

 

[Masquerade]

Cleyra ponders for a moment upon the question. She has many reasons, some more personal than others, but it was only at her mentor's advice that she decided to join the expedition. I can't say I'm here because I believe they need me. I want to seem trustworthy, not pretentious.

Better give another reason. She had thought of a few since the night before. "I wish to experience things that have never before been experienced by our people. In returning, I will use that experience for the betterment of our community," she announces in a nearly political fashion.

Did that sound too constructed? "And," she continues, speaking more honestly, "I want to put my talents to use doing something larger than growing crops for once." She sighs, feeling a bit better about herself having said it.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Thane speaks quietly. "The forest is my home, not this village. If something has happened, then I must first look to the safety of it. Would you not seek answers if your house was alight?"

 

[WarShrike]

"To boldly go where no Cuirlenian has gone before. To see what lies beyond our meager borders, and to see the lands, creatures, and spirits that live beyond our knowledge. To record it all and bring back maps that will allow Cuirlen to extend it's influence to lands and peoples currently unknown. Think of those travelling merchants. I'm betting they make great profits here. Sure, they bring things we need, but at a high price. If we knew where these other villages were, we'd be able to send out our own traders and get honest deals. I mean, seriously, a pristine white fox fur for a knife? That hide was one in a thousand, yet once the trader laid eyes on it, he wouldn't trade me the blade for anything else. If need be that one fur could have paid for an entire season's grain, or all the exotic spices they had, or whatnot. But no, because these traders are so damned greedy, all i get is a new knife. And i need knives. Livelyhood n all.

And you Limpetie? Since we have time before the council arrives in full, tell us of how we came here? Where did the settlers come from? And why did they leave their home? They all say you were there even then. You were one of the settlers. Please, tell us what you know of the world?"

 

[Dire Lemming]

Enko seems reluctant to answer Lempetie's question, and listens quietly as the others give their own answers, looking concerned.

 

[Shayuri]

Erin just smirks insouciantly.

"Because I can."